Since NC was running L1 (and L2) prior to the patant even being applied for, they will be 'Grandfathered in.' This is similar to Trademark/Tradename usage.
Since NC was running L1 (and L2) prior to the patant even being applied for, they will be 'Grandfathered in.' This is similar to Trademark/Tradename usage.
It was applied for in 1995. I'm pretty sure you are wrong with the 'grandfathered in' statement. Are you a patent attorney to back that up?
They will fail. There are different MMO's out there which exist longer then NCSoft itself does. Every single game that allows virtual interaction between Subject A and Subject B are supressed by this patent, even games like: Quake 3, Duke Nukem 3D, Doom, Counter-Strike. These devolopers have never been sued for it. However, if we break it down to the final basics, then they should sue Microsoft too for software like MSN Messenger.
If the Judge would agree to this lawsuit, then the Internet has no more meaning to exist.
As all aspects of the internet allows "“System and method for enabling users to interact in a virtual space.” According to U.S. Patent 7,181,690.
But then again, it is America. Americans have prooven to be ******ed once again.
But if Worlds.com win, then i will ask for a patent for "Methods of communicating between grouped individuals in all forms of reality." Gimme money for the conferance calls, group conversations at msn, IRC chats, forums, etc. Gimme gimme gimme!!
Well I dont know american courts system well yet, but the thing is that in this case juri is requested. As we know NCsoft is forgein company and worlds.com could try to play this card.
Look at their crappy site. Worlds.com did manage to make even a crappier site then Lineage2.com, that is a big achievement.
If one can pay for expensive loyers, then one is able to pay for a decent webmaster too.
I will tell you how this will end: Judge: Worlds.com, stop try being a wiseguy, you're not.
It was applied for in 1995. I'm pretty sure you are wrong with the 'grandfathered in' statement. Are you a patent attorney to back that up?
There is no concept of being 'grandfathered in' with patent law. There is prior art, which if shown to exist, makes the entire patent null and void for everyone, not just those who were doing it before the patent application. Meridian 59 existed prior to the original application date and appears to do everything the patent claims.
To Purp:
It absolutely is a scam, just one played with the legal system. The cost of fighting these things in court is so ridiculously high, it's almost always cheaper to just pay them something to go away. I doubt Worlds.com has any delusions that their patent would hold up under scrutiny, which is why they'll never sue Blizzard or anyone else they think might fight back with it.
I saw this on the Vault Network forums, and just LOL'ed. The patent is so vague and there are SEVERAL mmo's out there 'breaking' the same patent that I think worlds.com is biting off way more than they can chew. Looks like a rediculous attempt at publicity more than anything, imho.
Blizzard should lend their lawyers to NCsoft, as if they lose, this will set a precedent which will be used against Blizzard later... NC West is a daughter company and their revenue probably is only a fraction of NC Korea, so if NC Korea will decide they don't care, this case might be lost...
Just like SCO linux knew something about their patent/ownership claims that the rest of the world (except for the gullible ones that paid up) knew, right? Time will tell, I suppose.
-j
Basically, though SCO never really made patent claims, that was a copyright infringement 'case'. Hard to really call it a case, was just alot of smoke and mirrors, the 'gullible' ones knew it was bogus too, they just figured it was cheaper to pay them to go away then fight an army of lawyers for years.
To Purp:
It absolutely is a scam, just one played with the legal system. The cost of fighting these things in court is so ridiculously high, it's almost always cheaper to just pay them something to go away. I doubt Worlds.com has any delusions that their patent would hold up under scrutiny, which is why they'll never sue Blizzard or anyone else they think might fight back with it.
yup
Patents in the long run are evil, in almost all fields. Especially when they imply such generic things, how can you patent online interactions over special servers using a graphical interface?
I'll patent the wheel... oh boy, car companies will have to build cars without wheels else or pay me some money, fast. >.<
Patents in the long run are evil, in almost all fields. Especially when they imply such generic things, how can you patent online interactions over special servers using a graphical interface?
I'll patent the wheel... oh boy, car companies will have to build cars without wheels else or pay me some money, fast. >.<
I patent this phrase:
Say this 5x fast: You're Sofa King, funny?
This looks no different than Rambus (ticker RMBS) lawsuits or the cyber squatters. Judges and the law will wise up sooner or later but before that happens someone will be trying to make a quick buck.
Guys i'm sorry to say this but i invented breathing a few millennia ago ,and am currently holding a pending patent for this.
So for each breath of air u take u owe me 0.1$ .This applies retroactive so you need to pay me for the air your ancestors breathed,unless you can provide proof of using a different tehnique , one which does not require inhaling or exhaling.
Not at all. My guess is this is simply a shakedown. They happen all the time.
Another poster hit on it imo---we'll contact you to argue for 'payment', if you tell us to go away we'll file the claim (the filing of which is relatively cheap) and then see if that increased pressure persuades you to pay us to go away.
This practically defines the legal environment in this country.
I'd say they have a reasonable chance of making substantial money (well, their lawyers will) without actually accomplishing anything.
The preparation for a nothing-lawsuit can easily run into six figures--litigating the case escalates these costs significantly over that. Considering you might get 12 "reel Umahrikans" on any jury--most will agree to pay 'something' to make these go away.
Wouldn't surprise me if NCSoft settles this one--after all, the 'remedy' would simply be a monetary award anyway in this case.